Article of furniture



March 20, 1934. H. o. CARROLL ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed March 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f2 21b er? 0, Car/0Z2 a 9 ATTORNEY March 20, 1934. H, o. CARROLL ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed March 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W ATTORNEY;

Patented Mar. 20,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,951,594 ARTICLE or Fiiitfii'rnim Hubert 0. Carroll, Painesville, Ohio Application Mach 19, 1932, serial No. 599,393 4 class. (61. it-:11

This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly tables, etc., and it is among the objects of the invention to provide a construction having conveniently operable folding elements.

5 Another object is the provision of means in com mon for operating a plurality of folding ele ments. A further object is the provision of folding receptacles of a disappearing character.

7 Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the princi ple of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a folding table embodying the invention, portions of theto'p being broken away to show the mechanism beneath; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substan tially on a plane indicated by the lines 11-11, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a detail; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken substantially on a plane indicated by the line Iv -IV, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section substantially on a plane indicated by the line"V 'V,Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a closed uptable; Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the same opened up; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on a plane indicated by the line VIIIVIII,

3 Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a table having a top 2, which may be of wood or other desired material, and

having legs 3 hingedly connected, the legs being arranged at suitable stabilizing positions,'for

instance at the corners. One convenient means for mounting such legs may involve a carrierplate C having brackets 4 perforated as 'at 5 to receive a hinge-pin connecting a hinge-member on the leg. Such hinging-member may where desired, be extended in the form'of a reinforce 6 of sheet metal fastened to the leg by screws or other convenient means. Desirably, the plate member C also includes corner reinforce portions 7, 8, which may be fastened to the edgemembers 9 by screws or other suitable means. In the plate C, there is also desirably included a bearing-opening 10 for receiving the end of the rod or shaft 11.

Connecting between each leg and the table is a toggle 12, 13, one end of which, as shown Fig. 5, is fixed to the operating shaft 11, whereby on rotation of thelatter the corresponding toggle and leg are manipulated. Means in cornmdn'for operating a plurality of the legs at once is pro vided. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, this maycomprise the operating shafts 11, each connected-to the toggles of two legs, and for imparting the necessary throw the shafts 11 are providedwith crank-portions or bends 14 on which are mounted 651 the throw-links 15, one extending from each shaft 11 tcward themid-line of the table, where an operating lever in common is arranged. As shown in Fig. 1, etc., this operating lever may be in the form of a pair of arms 16, 16, joined by a handle-piece 17, each arm 16 being pivoted to the table as at 18, While the corresponding links 15 are pivotally connected to the respective arms 16 at spaced points 19. As readily seen, this const'itutes a simple lever system with fulcrum atthe points 18, 18,- and swingable thereabout, the handl'e 17 being on the longer arm of the lever and the respective links 15 being connected at shorter spaced distances from the fulcrum 18,and'as further seen, a swinging movement'of the lever 8 0" 16,16 will then through the links 15 operate the cr'anksl l of both shafts 11, and correspondingly rotate thlatter and operate the toggles and the legs connected thereto. It will be further seen that by' reason of the arrangement of thelever 8'5 and links, when the lever 16 is in the position shcwn infull lines in Fig.2, the legs willbe unfolded out from the table, the lever-linksystem form a sort of locking-toggle tending to securely hold the parts in such set position. Onthe other hand, when the lever 16 is swung around in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, to final position shownin dotted lines, the legs will be folded up, again'by reason of the arrangement of the lever-link system a locking toggle action is had such as to firmly hold them in such position. Where thecrank portions 14 of the rodsll and thelinks 15are manufactured by precision metho'ds' the members of both sets will Work together properly without binding. If less precise fitting of parts is had, equalizer means may be incorporatedin the connections between the links 15 andthecrahks 141-. Such equalizer means as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may comprise a semiclosed stirrup 20, mounted on the crank 14. To 10 the stirrup 20, the link 15 is then connected, for instance by mounting through holes at the inner and outer ends of the stirrup, and nuts 21, preferably with a set-nut 22, may be compensatively M adjusted for the proper throw of the links in op- 0 eration together. It will be understood that each shaft 11 may be provided with appropriate points of bearing intermediately, in addition to the end bearings 10 aforedescribed.

Folding receptacles T, D, are shown, these being on the order of disappearing-type members mounted to allow being pulled out into exposure beyond the table, as indicated in the full line position in Fig. 4, or to be swung back into disappearing position behind the edge member 9, as indicated in the dotted line position. Irrespective of the particular detail form of the receptacle, a convenient operating mounting means therefor may comprise swing-arm supports 23, 24, pivoted at one end to the receptacle, and at the other end to brackets or the like 25 on the table. Conveniently, the elements 25 may be sheet metal stampings, fastened by screws 26 or other suitable means to the edge member 9, a notch being provided for the shaft 11 at the inner end, and a suitable lug or projection s as a stop for arm 24. The swing-arms 23, 24, may be separate at each side, or preferably are formed as U-shaped members extending through the receptacle base 27 and thence at each free end into the fulcrum-receiving openings 28. A spring-member 2 is suitably connected to the receptacle member 27 by one end 30 and to the table by the other end 31. With the spring member suitably positioned, it will be seen that the receptacle is thereby held in position, whether open or closed. The form of the receptacle indicated at T is an ash tray, and this may include a separable bowl 32, which normally seats in the carrying-frame 33. In the form of receptacle indicated at D, a box-tray or drawer is arranged. As readily seen, the mounting and function follows the lines previously discussed.

As a further refinement of the invention, the table top itself may be arranged to fold up. As indicated in Fig. 6, when thus folded up, the entire apparatus takes the form of a compact assembly somewhat resembling a suit-case, and by arranging handles 34 at suitable points on the edge, convenient carrying is assured. A catch or look 35, preferably of simple thumb-pressed spring-type, may serve to hold the parts together in such folded-up position. When such catch or look is released, and the top comprising the portions 2a, 2b is unfolded, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the folding legs, etc., are exposed. The topportions 2a, 2b, are suitably hinged together by hinges 36, and a spring-pressed bolt 37 of simple type, the detail of which is immaterial, may serve to lock the parts in extended position. Mounted on the plates C by suitable hinges 38, are the folding legs 3 A metal reenforce element 39 may desirably be secured to each leg 3, and to this the toggle members 12 13 may form a connection to the plate (3 or table-top. From the knee of each toggle-couple 12 13 the link 15 extends inwardly towards the mid-line, being connected in turn to an operating lever 16- which is centrally pivoted as at 18 As readily seen, the swinging of the operating lever 16 serves to straighten up the toggles 12 13 and. unfold the legs 3 each being operated through its respective link 15 As an additional safeguard, a locking-latch may be applied to the operating lever 16, and this may comprise, for instance, a spring-bar or plate 40 which may be fastened to the operating lever 16*, and may carry at one end a projection 41 to seat into a correspending opening in the plate 42 of the table top, such opening being positioned at a point appropriate to the opened-up position.

Again, as above described, folding receptacles may be applied, such as to be capable of being opened up by being swung outside of the edgemember 9, or be swung back thereof in closed position. The receptacle D, more particularly illustrated in Fig. 7, is of drawer form. A handle 43 may be applied thereto if desired.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. A table top, pairs of folding supporting legs pivotally mounted thereunder, a shaft to which each pair of legs is secured, a crank on each shaft, links extending from said cranks toward the center of the table top, take-up stirrups between said links and said cranks, an operating lever mounted under the table top to swing away from and toward the same, and connections from said links to said lever which line up in togglelocking position when the lever is against the table top.

2. A table top, pairs of folding supporting legs pivotally mounted thereunder, a shaft to which each pair of legs is secured, a combined brace and leg pivot bracket and shaft-end bearing within each corner of the table top for receiving a corresponding leg and shaft-end, and an operating lever swingable away from and toward the table top for actuating the shaft and legs simultaneously and locking in position against said top.

3. A table top, pairs of folding supporting legs pivotally mounted thereunder, a shaft to which each pair of legs is secured, a combined brace and leg pivot bracket and shaft-end bearing within each corner of the table top for receiving a corresponding leg and shaft-end, cranks on said shafts, links extending from said cranks toward the center of the table top, take-up stirrups between said links and said cranks, an operating lever mounted under the table top to swing away from and toward the same, and connections from said links to said lever which line up in toggle-locking position when the lever is against the table top.

4. A table top, pairs of folding supporting legs pivotally mounted thereunder, a shaft to which each pair of legs is secured, a crank on each shaft, links extending from said cranks toward the center of the table top, an operating lever mounted under the table top to swing away from and toward the plane of said top, and connections from said links to said lever which line up in toggle-locking position when the lever is against the table top.

HUBERT O. CARROLL. 

